Knowing Self Through the Journey: Graduate Students' Experiences of Self-Knowledge Development

摘要

This article explores graduate students' expe_riences of a self-knowledge development course that is framed by the Heroic Journey model. Through a consid_eration of several theorists' perspectives and through the voices of 13 study participants, this article examines the nature of this self-study experience and its impact on participants' lives. In light of feminist critiques of the tradi_tional Heroic Journey model, the author pays particular attention to the experiences of women in this course. The author identifies three major findings: First, when the Heroic journey model is understood as a process and not just a theoretical construct, it gains significant power as an inclusive tool for fostering self-knowledge development. Second, self-knowledge development is not solely an individual endeavor. Self-knowledge is socially con_structed through interaction with others. Third, self-knowledge development has critical spiritual dimensions, and this deeper level of knowing can lead to significant, long-lasting growth and change.